Children’s health and nutrition are a major cause of concern for the all-round development. Children found to have committed offences, street children and abandoned children, who are in need of protection against exploitation, child abuse are being admitted in the juvenile centers through Juvenile Justice Boards. The research was undertaken to assess the nutritional status of children in the juvenile centers. A total number of 327 children living in the six selected juvenile centers were selected for the study. Nutritional status of the juvenile children admitted in the six observation homes during the study period were assessed by using an interview schedule. On the whole 38 per cent of the Juvenile children were found to be underweight. Only 10 per cent of the children were found to be overweight. Out of three hundred and twenty seven Juvenile children 20 children had dyspigmentation of hair indicating the presence of protein deficiency. On the whole 8 per cent of children had pale conjunctiva a classical symptom of vitamin A deficiency. Based on the nutritional status of children living in the juvenile centers, appropriate educational strategies were developed and health and nutrition education was given. Database on the health and nutrition was developed. Education given using charts, posters, short film and flex boards had brought in attitudinal change among the juvenile children to have wholesome food, to avoid plate wastage and skipping of meal and to lead a physically, morally and spiritually a happy life.
